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The Morning After

Gonna try to get through this one without cussing. Here we go...

The Good

Ruggs Deep: This has turned into a real weapon for the Raiders. And as we saw last night, these plays have the ability to flip momentum QUICK.

Grit: In years past, I felt going into every game that the Raiders HAD to have a good start to have a shot at the winning. The 2021 Raiders are not that way. They believe, no matter what is going on, that they have a shot. That is a HUGE change in culture and a credit to Gru & Mayock. Now if they can just figure out how to start stronger on offense this team may go somewhere.

Renfrow's IQ & Determination: I don't know if I've ever seen a punt returner make play like that before. Absolutely amazing. Maybe this would fit under the grit section, but I wanted to give this play it's due. This is the type of play that can turn games. Had it not been the 1st quarter (second time I've mentioned it... that's called foreshadowing) the offense probably scores on the next drive and the team takes all momentum.

Honorable Mention for Good: Moehrig made some plays last night. He seems to be getting more comfortable. Hopefully this continues. He has the ability to be a game changer on the back end.

The Bad

3rd/4th & Short: This continues to be a problem. One of the few holdover problems from last season. Gru, Olsen, & Cable have to get this figured out. It is costing the team drives and giving the opponent extra possessions.

Gru's Decisions: I know I just talked about their inability to get a yard when they need it, but not going for it on 4th and less than a yard with under 3mins left in the half was a bad decision. It felt like he was compensating for the decision to go for it early in the game against MIA. It's like he understands the analytics of it all, but doesn't know how to use it.

The UGLY

Offensive line: No push in the run game and Carr running for his life for the majority of the game. For the first 3 weeks I told people to give the Oline time to gel. I said "the rest of the team has had the ability to overcome the Oline deficiencies, so just give them time". Well that is no longer true. Has Leatherwood shown improvement? Does anyone have faith in him to take on a pass rusher 1-on-1? How many penalties has he had this season? How long does it have to go on before Cable and Gru decide he just isn't ready for this level of competition on the outside? BTW, I'm not absolving the rest of the Oline. They haven't been good. But Leatherwood is the most glaring issue up front. I mean, when your job is to block a guy named Bosa, and you don't even touch him before he is leveling Carr... maybe time to kick inside to guard.

1st Quarter Offense: 4 games is a trend. I'll applaud the teams ability to make adjustments, but where would this team be if they could score in the 1st? Not going to do a crazy stat of the week section because the crazy stat belongs in this section.

TDs by Quarter

1st: 0

2nd: 2

3rd: 4

4th: 4

OT: 1

That's right. The Raiders have scored more TD's in 2 OT periods than they have in 4 1st quarters. Like I said earlier, if they figure this part out they may do some actual damage this season. Keep spotting opponents double digit leads and it's going to be a long, long season.

The best thing about that game is that it's over. Wash it off and move forward. Raiders have a very beatable Bears team in Vegas this week. Time to start a new streak.